Chapter 493 Encounter 2
Takahashi led his subordinates to run for more than ten miles in a mess until there were no pursuers behind them. At this time, Takahashi was holding a command knife and gasping for breath. Many soldiers used rifles as crutches, and they were also gasping for breath. The soldiers wanted to lie on the ground immediately, but when they saw Takahashi and other officers standing, the soldiers dared not be arrogant. The strict Japanese military disciplines of the army would never dare to step beyond the line.
After resting for a while, Takahashi straightened his body and showed his former majestic expression on his face. Several squadron leaders immediately moved closer to him when they saw his appearance. "How is your loss?" Takahashi asked. As his subordinates reported one by one, Takahashi's face looked very ugly. The sudden encounter not only caused more than 100 soldiers to lose, but the key was that he was beaten to a mess without even figuring out what unit was on the opposite side.
Takahashi knew very well that after just one meeting, he judged that the opponent was definitely not a British army, but he did not believe it was the Chinese army. The most important thing was that the opponent's army seemed to use automatic weapons, and it was a new light weapon. Judging from the opponent's continuous dense bomb rain, the opposite army had at least two battalions. In fact, before the left and right troops participated in the battle, he led the crowd to defeat.
"Grand Colonel, we were about to encircle the British army when suddenly a large number of troops rushed out of the woods. They were wearing steel helmets and fancy clothes, especially the rifles in their soldiers could be fired continuously. Under the intensive rain of bullets, we did not rush to organize a counterattack at all." said a squadron leader.
Another squadron leader said: "Girl Colonel, the facial features of the opposite army are Chinese. They have extremely high tactical qualities, orderly attacks, first-class weapons and equipment, especially their military uniforms, which have excellent concealment effects in the trees. We must be Chinese people on the other side." Takahashi agreed to his subordinates' judgment and said: "The opposite army was hunting and equipped with a large number of mortars. According to the power of the mortar explosion, the troops appearing on the opposite side must be Chinese troops, and immediately send a report to the corps."
After receiving the telegram from the vanguard troops, Commander Mudaguchi Ryo immediately issued an order, ordering the vanguard troops to stop advancing and defending on the spot. Then, he ordered the air reconnaissance planes to go to the Huguan area for reconnaissance. At this time, Chief of Staff Sato said: "God General, according to the report of the vanguard troops, the other party is using a new type of automatic weapon. Could it be that the Chinese army was hunting and equipped with American equipment?"
Mudaguchi Ryokawa said: "The Chinese army is indeed very fast, and ordered the reconnaissance plane to immediately figure out how many Chinese troops there are in Huguan. They used automatic weapons to indicate that the Chinese army was hunting and equipped with American equipment." About half an hour later, the reconnaissance plane sent back the message that there was about a regiment of Chinese troops in Huguan. Soon, the spies from Burmese sent back the messages one after another, and a large number of Chinese troops gathered in Tonggu, and there was about a division of Chinese troops on the front line of Tonggu to Huguan.
The Chinese army appeared opposite, and Mudaguchi Ryokan's desire to fight increased greatly. He pondered for a moment and said, "We must eat the vanguard of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, order the vanguard troops to launch a feint attack, dispatch a gang to detour around the Hu Pass, and the 1st brigade of the 5th Air Force took off to fight and cooperate with the attack.
At around 8 am, the reinforcements gathered from Takahashi Brigade came along the railway line and highway. The fierce battle started soon, but the Japanese attack was very small and the attack speed was very slow. The Japanese attacked for a distance and used firepower to attack. Even if Japanese bombers appeared in the sky, the Japanese attack was still loud and thunder.
The regiment command post, the regiment commander Zhai Biao said depressedly: "Damn it! What tactics did the Japanese army play? How could it become a turtle? Where did the Bushido spirit of the Great Japanese Imperial Army go? The Japanese army launched the Battle of Taiyuan back then, which was definitely not like this. At that time, the Japanese army launched an attack like a tide." The Chief of Staff said: "It was one time and another, and maybe the Japanese became smarter."
At the command post of the First Army in Tonggu, the telegrams from the front line were very noisy. At this time, the commander of the army, Tan Zhen, took the telegram and said lightly: "The Japanese army's attack was not fierce, probably to be testing us." Chief of staff Su Yu said: "Commander, the Japanese army had learned about our attack a few hours ago. The Japanese army was so careful when launching an attack. I suspect that the Japanese army was attacking from the back!" Tan Zhen aimed at the map and said: "The situation you said is very likely. Is it confusing us to stump the Japanese army?"
Su Yu analyzed: "Commander! Obviously, the Japanese army has determined that we are the Chinese Expeditionary Force. You see, the position of the First Regiment is too sudden and is about 20 kilometers away from the follow-up troops. If a roundabout force appears in the Japanese army to encircle Huguan, the First Regiment will be in danger. The situation has changed now, and I think there is no need to stick to Huguan anymore. Our entire army should retreat to the Tonggu area to build fortifications and form a new line of defense."
Tan Zhen nodded and said, "Report to the headquarters immediately and order the First Regiment of the First Division to withdraw, join the First Division to withdraw to Tonggu." The combat staff turned around and issued a telegram. Suddenly, fierce gunfire came from outside, and everyone was shocked. A combat staff quickly picked up the phone and said, "Receive the guards!" "What happened?" Tan Zhen asked. The combat staff put down the phone and said, "The guards report that a small group of Myanmar guerrillas attacked my logistics forces." Tan Zhen said, "According to the military intelligence provided by the British army, the Burmese independent leader defected to the Japanese. This person became the Burmese Independence Army in Thailand. The British defeat was caused by the Burmese people. The guerrillas outside were the Burmese Independence Army."
Su Yu was worried, "The Japanese used the Burmese people to fight us, and the difficulties in fighting us will increase in the future. The Burmese people occupy the right time, place, and people will attack us at any time. This situation must be taken seriously, otherwise there will be endless disasters." At this time, gunfire outside stopped, the phone ringing rang, and the combat staff answered the phone and said, "Report to the military throne, the guards reported that about 50 Burmese people participated in the attack, and more than a dozen were killed. The remaining ones were captured. What should we do if the guard commander reported the arrested Burmese people?"
Tan Zhen said without hesitation: "Execute on the spot, damn the abominable Burmese dog." "Commander! Is this inappropriate to deal with it?" Su Yu asked. Tan Zhen said: "Deputy Commander Mu told the enemy of foreign countries to fight in foreign countries that must not be merciful. Extraordinary methods must be adopted in extraordinary times, and all Burmese people who participated in the resistance will be executed on the spot."
Tan Zhen seemed to remember something and said, "I will do this evil man!" He ordered the guards to search in Tonggu and execute all Burmese people holding weapons. In addition, he ordered all troops of the entire army to carry out ruthless attacks that those who believe that the Burmese people have committed evil behavior can be carried out, and they can be executed first and then reported."
"I'm afraid that this will kill innocent people. Will we report to the headquarters?" Su Yu said worriedly. Tan Zhen smiled and said, "How can we report such a thing? Wouldn't we raise questions to the headquarters? In order to ensure the security of the Japanese war, we must do this." At this point, a hidden rule was formed, and the entire army and even the Second Army were tacitly aware of it. What's even more terrifying is the British who advocated themselves as gentlemen. They hated the Burmese people even more, and the massacre of Burmese people reached an unparalleled level. Later, according to post-war statistics, nearly 1 million Burmese people died in two years.
Another "attack" of the Japanese army was repelled. At this time, the regiment commander Zhai Biao was smoking leisurely in the combat hidden room. At this time, a combat staff officer received a telegram from the radio operator and said, "Report the regiment seat! The brigade commander ordered us to withdraw from the battle quickly and assemble to the brigade headquarters." Zhai Biao received the telegram with some disbelief and looked at it quickly and said, "Retreat, we are not lazy to fight! Why retreat!" The chief of staff said, "The situation may change, execute the order! Zhai Biao had no choice but to say helplessly: "Order the rear of the first battalion, and the other units will quickly withdraw from the battle."
About an hour later, a heavy artillery battalion of the Japanese army came up. The Japanese wing captain received a telegram from the detoured troops: the unit had reached its designated position. The wing captain immediately issued an order to start the general attack. With the Japanese heavy artillery bombardment, Takahashi led his brigade to launch the attack first. Takahashi vowed to wash away the shame, and his subordinates were also very morale and rushed forward with loud shouts.
But unexpectedly, Takahashi led the charge troops into the range, but the opponent did not intercept them. The soldiers carefully entered the frontier defensive position, but could not see a figure. Takahashi immediately reported the situation to the brigade leader, and the brigade leader was also a little confused, and immediately ordered Takahashi to advance carefully and not get ambushed. It was already three hours later that the Japanese army entered Huguan and joined the detour troops. At this time, the Japanese army realized that the Chinese army had retreated.
After the Japanese occupied Hu Pass, they learned about the Chinese army that had an army in Tonggu, so the commander Mutaguchi Aki ordered the Japanese army to set up defenses at Hu Pass. At the same time, he received a report from the 177th Division on the Eastern Front that the vanguard of the division was intercepted by the Chinese army in Pusheng. Then two other troops of the unit were also intercepted by the Chinese army. Mutaguchi Aki ordered the 177th Division to break through the Chinese army's defense line. Then the encounter between Chen Yi's army and the Japanese army began.
At the headquarters of the Chinese Expeditionary Force of Lashio, Du Luming, commander of the Lashio Chinese Expeditionary Force, glanced at the map and said: "We and the Japanese army encountered each other at Hu Pass. After a small test, they retreated from Hu Pass. Commander Alexander was very angry and accused us of why we retreated at Hu Pass. His troops were defeated like rabbits, and they even accused us of righteousness. What is the reason?"
Stilwell laughed and said, "General Alexander's intention is very obvious. He wants us to win time for him. When Alanhou is re-established, he is naturally very annoyed that we withdraw from Huguan." Du Luming said, "The British army on the Yangon line lost 5,000 people, and under our support, I am very worried about the British army's defense in the Irrawaddy River. Now I am very worried about the British."
Stilwell shook his head and said, "We have no choice but to the British. Almost all the logistics supplies provided by the British to the First Army fell into the Japanese army's pocket. Next, we must organize force airdrops. At least a few months later, large transport planes will enter Ruili Airport. I am really worried that there will be problems with the logistics."
Du Luming said: "We can overcome the temporary difficulties. What I worry most is the defense of the British army. I advised General Alexander to enter the Second Division of the First Army to assist in the defense, but he disagrees. The British army is currently under great pressure and he has no reason to refuse us." Stilwell analyzed: "Myanmar is a traditional British colony, and it is probably because the interests of the British are at work. We have no choice but to do so. Frankly speaking, the friction between us and the British has just begun."
"Report! The vanguard of the Third Division of the First Army encountered the Japanese army in Pusheng and were currently fighting fiercely." When everyone heard this, they hurriedly gathered in front of the sand table. Stilwell said: "The Japanese army indeed sent troops on this line. Deputy Commander-in-Chief Mu made a very accurate judgment. Obviously, the Japanese army's goal was Lashio and the Bamo line. The purpose was to cut off our retreat and implement a strategic siege."
Two hours later, they received a report from the Third Division that Lin Xi and the Wangu Gang also encountered Japanese troops.
Chapter completed!